Hi,
I was just about to ask for help on feeding our 9 week old boxer girl but after reading a few past posts have come to the conclusion that the recommened feeding amount is far greater than she requires. I am feeding Beta puppy as that is what the breeder was feeding and i did not want to upset her little tummy. The feeding guide lines say; for her adult weight (breed standard is 28-30kg) feed 360g per day. Now i don't know about anybody else but 12oz of food a day over 4 meals seem hell of a lot for a dog that weighs only 4.6kg.
She is very lively and full of herself, her ribs and hips are NOT visable and her stools are firm. She has gained half a kilo in the past two days. I only know this as i have been worried because she was not clearing her bowl and needed to know if she was gaining/loosing. Now i feel happier at feed times and hope that she will feel more relaxed too.
Please feel free to let me have your feelings on this subject.
                              Many Thanx

I think you have picked up correctly that most manufacturers recommended amounts are on the generous side, all pups vary and perhaps one fella somewhere is built for these recommendations but I haven't met him yet :D  As you have obviously realised checking how your puppy looks and is growing is by far the best way of judging it :)

Hi Isabel,
Yeah, I was getting a bit paranoid and i think she was picking up on this. I undersand that it must be very difficult for the manufacturers to give guides, but there is nothing that says this may be right or wrong. Its been a lot of years since we have had a puppy and like many others we applied the amounts stated and worried accordingly As i said, much happier now

yes its states that flo should be fed 200g per day- but she can only manage 125g maximum! but she looks healthy etc- so im not worried either!

You just have to judge accordingly if they are still eating but leaving some food then maybe they don't need that amount.

I wouldn't worry one of mine can eat hugely the other can eat half and still look better.

When I have a litter I feed them all together and they help themselves to what's there. So, when one goes to it's new home I give a chart and a bag of puppy food that it has been fed on with a note stating the amount that I have been feeding. I also state that this is a guide as I cannot state exactly how much each puppy will eat. Some eat more than others. Some will eat more in the morning, but others will eat more at night. So long as your puppy is eating, growing and not looking thin I wouldn't worry too much. I've always felt that if the pup eats what's in the bowl, great. If there is any left over you are feeding it a bit too much so lift what is not eaten and give a little bit less next time. If the pup finishes the food but is looking for more give a handful, just to see if it is really hungry, or just looking. ;) You'll soon learn the difference :D

Hi LindyLou,
Thats the same as the breeder we got her from, a mass feed. We got a feeding/routine chart and as i said have kept her on the same food. I'm not worried now, i weighed her recommended amount out and it is an emmense amount, she has happily cleared her bowl this morning we just waiting for lunch now, see how it goes

Feeding guidelines are just that, guidelines.  You are doing the right thing by adjusting the amount you feed based on what your pup looks like.

Feeding trials are, for the most part, quite flawed and so, one would assume, are feed guidelines.  I believe these guidelines depend at least as much on the motives of the individual food manufacturer as on actual study.  For example, if a company wants to sell more food, their guideline will call for feeding more food than MOST dogs actually need.  If a company wants to make you think they use quality ingredients, their guidelines may call for feeding less than MOST dogs actually need.